Despite not knowing how much longer she has, a 26-year-old mother from Barnsley has vowed to offer the best quality of life for her toddler.
A brave toddler has been diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor after surviving despite being given only an hour to live at birth. Little Ellie May was born with a dangerous tumor in her heart, prompting physicians to advise her mother, Jade Rowland, 26, to terminate her child. The single mother of three, however, refused, stating that as long as her child was fíghting for survival, she would battle for herself as well. During a routine scan 22 weeks ago, doctors at Leeds General Infirmary discovered a tumor in Ellie’s heart. Tuberous sclerosis is a rare hereditary disorder that she was subsequently diagnosed with. In the UK, between one in 6,000 and one in 10,000 neonates are affected by the illness, which causes benign tumors to form throughout the body. Ellie May would not ‘live more than an hour after birth, according to specialists, because she would struggle to breathe on her own and walk owing to cognitive deficiencies.
The baby, however, overcame the odds and was born two and a half weeks early on March 27, 2019, via cesarean section, with no health issues. Despite being warned she would never be able to walk, the stubborn baby learned to walk. Ellie May was ultimately diagnosed with West Syndrome, a rare epileptic seizure disorder that affects infants, after experiencing six to eight seizures each day for six months. “I’ll never forget when the doctors told me little Ellie May wouldn’t last more than an hour,” Jade, a Barnsley carer, said. It was a terrible disaster. It was as if she had been born to ∂ιє. “They told me to abort her, but I was determined to fíght for her as long as she was battling for her life.
“She’s a fíghter, and the last two years have been full of ups and downs, but everything she’s accomplished has been especially wonderful.” Ellie May was dealt a devastating blow in February when an MRI scan revealed three tumors in her brain, which would cause her developmental challenges as she grew older. Mum is heartbroken. Brain specialists warned Jade that the tumors were inoperable since they were dispersed across the brain and operation would be too hazardous. Little Ellie will have learning impairments as a result of the benign tumors, and doctors are unsure if she will live an average life span.
“We were told she wouldn’t live,” Jade explained. She went ahead and did it. She wasn’t supposed to walk, we were told. She went ahead and did it. “I’m extremely proud of my little kid since she has always fought against the odds.” When Jade had her usual 22-week ultrasound, she was told that the best course of action was to abort her pregnancy. However, holding her for the first time after she was born inspired her to believe in miracles. “As we grew closer, they warned we should prepare for the worst,” she explained, “but it was a bizarre feeling when they told me I could take her home two days after she was born.” “The first time I held her, I had the impression that miracles could happen. Because of her, I believe they will come true. When I look at her, I’m struck by her ability to walk.”
Ellie May’s happiness was short-lived, however, as testing at Sheffield Children’s Hospital discovered three brain tumors. Doctors’ve given her a fatal prognosis because they won’t be able to operate on her, but Jade hasn’t been told how much longer she has with her daughter.
